My dv5 won't boot... HP wants $400... now what ?

HP gave me a dv5 as a replacement for a zd7000 laptop that quit.

Now the dv5 has quit. It won't boot. It gets to the HP Logo screen and freezes. It never makes it to the BIOS screen.

I chatted online with HP support. After performing a few tests (the fan runs, etc) they concluded its a hardware problem. They want $400 to fix it.

The unit is 16 months old. It has seen VERY light usage.

I've sent an email to the people who handled the replacement of my zd7000.

Anyone have any ideas on how to handle this ? Throw it in the garbage and get a netbook ? Get a Dell ? Sink $400 into it ?

Thanks

 

IMO , not worth wasting ur money on Hp... save it and buy a proper laptop like an Asus G73... hp laptops are crap IMO and i'm nver buying one again... they just keep on dying...

 

Get a netbook.

 

Needs a motherboard replacement. It's easy to do once you get past the fear factor and follow the service manual. You can get a mobo off ebay for about $180 shipped.

Link to PDF service manual: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01550108.pdf

Just today, I added a bluetooth module, fingerprint reader top cover, TV tuner and its cable to one of my DV5s. Took about an hour and a half. Mobo has to come out to do the TV tuner's cable run.

I own several HP notebooks and haven't had a single issue with any.

 

Pull the HDD. Does it continue on into BIOS now? If so, replace the HDD. Common issue in all DVx-xxxx units.

 

No offense to you Sean, but can't you just stop fanboying the G73. Everywhere I go and see your recent posts, you keep soliciting the G73 as if it was god and everyone must have it. You know, not everyone is out looking for a big, bulky, overheating and specific laptop. Some people like me specifically didn't buy a G73 for several reasons.

Also to the OP, I suggest you take it to third-party repair depot and ask them for a re-analysis. Depending on that, they will charge you for repairs, but I am sure it is less that $400 off the bat. Or do it yourself like 2.0 said. The HP's after dvxxxx series has been easier to open up for maintenance and replacements.

 

LOL

I like you, StrikeSaber47.

Order one off eBay and do it yourself. I took my DV2500 apart, really was nothing to it, heck I didn't even follow the service manual after the first couple of pages, got the hang of what I needed to do. Just kept unscrewing, man.

If you have an Nvidia GPU, which I'm assuming you do, I would call and raise a bad smell. Google Nvidia solder/gpu failures and blitz them with the info...g'luk.

 

Thanks, guys.

I pulled the HD. Still won't boot.

I'll order the motherboard and put it in.

Its got the Intel graphics card, not the Nvidia. Would I be able to get a motherboard with the Nvidia card or how does that work ?

Thanks

 

Yes, the Nvidia Mobo is compatible. I'd advise the 90watt power supply for the 9600GT.

9600GT motherboard is 482870-001. If say, you are looking on ebay and it doesn't list this number but you see a picture of it - if the GPU has G96-630-A1 on it, that's the 9600GT.

The 9200M GS motherboard is 482867-001.

 

Thanks !

So I'd have to swap the power supply in the laptop too ? Or are you speaking of the external brick power supply ?

I'd love to run the Nvida graphics card rather than the Intel.

Does anyone know why these things quit ? (Overheating ?)

In that regard, is the Intel GPU cooler than the Nvidia or does it matter ?

 

The intel gpu will be cooler. When talking about Powersupplies for laptops, its the charging brick.

 

Just the external power supply. There are 65w and 90w available. You can find the 90W on ebay for about $25 shipped.

The 9200M GS runs very cool. 9600 can get a bit hot.

They generally do fail from heat. So keeps those fans cleaned out regularly. Also, don't use the notebook on soft, cushy surfaces during intensive graphic work.

I've practiced the above and have never had a graphic card failure.

 

Thanks !
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So I ordered a new system board and installed it. I replaced the stock board with a board with the 9600 GTS.

It boots now. It sees the BIOS. It displays a "Serial Number Not Found" error. It starts booting the OS. Then it shuts down without any warning or error 15 to 30 seconds after starting.

It does this whether or not the battery is installed. The battery was dead when I first booted it. I'm charging it now.

Any ideas ? Any chance its just drawing more power than the 65 watt PS can supply ?

Can I use the larger PS from my HDX instead ? The DV5 PS is 18.5V. The HDX PS is 19V.

Thanks